Battery-terminal device



P 1931- R. R. RIDGELY 1,799,442.

BATTERY TERMINAL DEVI CE Filed May 6, 1930 INVENTQR For 5/0650 Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT, orrlcs ROY a. RIDGELY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN BATTERY-TERMINAL DEVICE Application filed May-6, 1930. Serial No. 450,277.

adapted to contain a non-corrosive material such as oil or grease which may be readily at tached to the tapered end of a terminal post; and to provide a device of low cost and unitary structure which may be stamped out in quantity production.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the top end of a storage battery in which the terminal posts are provided with my improved invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of my improved device mounted on a terminal post with a cable clamp secured therearound.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of the device per se.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction inclicated by the arrows.

In the construction shown in the drawings, a storage battery 10 having the usual upstanding positive and negative terminal posts 11 is shown equipped with the improved hold for non-corrosive material generally designated 12 in this figure.

The improved device comprises an integral unitary tubular member having a lower sleeve portion 13 and an upper flared out cup portion 14 of larger diameter than the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion 13 is provided with a plurality of axially extending slits 15 extending from the lower end of the sleeve portion upwardly and terminating in spaced relation to the outwardly offset portion 16 of the cup 14:. v

A felt washer 18, which embraces the post 11, is interposed between the lower end of the sleeve 13 and the top surface of the battery 10, with the sleeve pressing down on the top side of the washer.

In the use of this device the sleeve portion 13 is passed through a battery cable clamp 17, which has a tapered opening therethrough to fit the upwardly tapered top end ofthe post 11. After the sleeve has been passed through the. tapered opening in the cable clamp the lower end is spread out, which spreading is permitted by the slits 1 The felt washer 18 is slipped down over the upstanding end of the terminal post 11 and the cable clamp 17 with the device mounted therein, is forced down over the top end of the post, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, until the lower end of the sleeve portion 13 presses into the top side of the washer 18 to hold it firmly down on the top surface 19 of the battery 10.

The cable clamp is then tightened in the usual way by means of a'bolt 20 and nut 21 threaded thereon.

The cup portion 14 of the device is then filled with a suitable non-corrosive material such as oil or grease 22. Any oil which may seep down between the sleeve 13 and the post 11 is absorbed and collected by the felt washer 18. 'This washer may also be oil soaked prior to being placed thereon so that corrosion will not affect that part of the terminal post 11 which is between the cable clamp 17 and the top 19 of the battery.

Batteries equipped with this device will have better electrical contacts between the post and the cable clamp, therebyincreasing the efficiency of the current, giving more power from the battery, andthus giving a sharper and more defined spark to the ignition means of the motor. The use of this device will give longer life to the battery by reason of the fact that the current will not need to pass through a layer of corrosion, thereby generally increasing the power and efliciency of the battery.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for the battery terminal post comprising a split clamp provided with aper tured ears anda clamping bolt received in said apertured ears, and a sleeve portion for snugly fitting around the post, said sleeve portion being slit up from the lower end thereof for allowing the lower end to spread out, and a top portion on said sleeve of relatively larger diameter forming a cup adapted to contain a non-corrosive material.

2. A device for a battery terminal post comprising in combination a cable clamp member, a lower portion, and an upper portion, said lower portion being a sleeve for snugly fitting around the post and said upper portion forming a cup adapted to contain a non-corrosive material, said sleeve portion bein provided with a plurality of slits extending from the lower end thereof for allowing the lower end to spread out to fit a tapered post.

3. A device for a battery terminal post comprising in combination a cable clamp member, a lower portion and an upper portion integral therewith, said lower portion being a sleeve for snugly fitting around the post, said sleeve portion being slit up from the lower end thereof with the slit terminating in spaced relation to the upper portion, said upper portion being of larger diameter than the sleeve portion to form a cup adapted to contain a non-corrosive material.

ROY RIDGELY. 

